Hempstead County, Arkansas Eviction Risk: Low

Hempstead County scores 2.1/10 (Low) on the eviction-risk scale, averaged across 12 cities with individual scores ranging from 1.5 to 2.2. That compressed band signals a county where operating conditions are broadly consistent, though landlords should not read the low county average as a guarantee of smooth sailing at every address. At rank 24 of 75 Arkansas counties, 23 counties carry higher risk, putting Hempstead County squarely in the higher-risk third of the state, even with a nominally low score.

The county's average rent of $819 and a rent-burden rate of 35.5% suggest tenants here are paying a meaningful share of income toward housing. That financial pressure, combined with a poverty rate of 19.6% and a renter share of 36.9%, means landlords should underwrite vacancies and collection risk conservatively rather than assuming the low score translates to zero friction.

The cities inside Hempstead County

The highest-risk address in the county is Blevins at 2.2/10, followed by Hope and Tollette, both at 2.1/10. Hope is by far the largest market, with a population of 8,671, making it the practical center of gravity for any landlord operating in Hempstead County. Blevins, at 167 residents, has a smaller rental pool but carries the county's peak risk score.

At the lower end, Washington and McNab each score 1.7/10, and Fulton comes in at 1.8/10. The gap between 1.7 and 2.2 across a single county may look small on paper, but it reflects real differences in tenant demographics, vacancy dynamics, and collection patterns. Risk is hyper-local here, and investors should evaluate each city individually rather than treating the county average as a proxy for any single submarket.

State-level laws that apply here

All landlords in Arkansas operate under Ark. Code § 18-17 (Residential Landlord-Tenant Act). For non-payment of rent, the required notice period is just 3 days. A lease violation that can be cured triggers a 14-day notice, and a no-cause or end-of-term termination requires 30 days. Understanding the full Arkansas eviction process matters because even in an uncontested case, resolution typically takes 30 to 60 days; a contested matter can run 90 to 150 days. Court filing fees range from $165 to $250, sheriff lockout fees add $40 to $120, and attorney fees commonly run $500 to $2,500, so landlords should budget for the real cost of removal before it becomes necessary.

Arkansas state law does not require just cause for non-renewal, and the state preempts any local rent-control ordinance, so no city within Hempstead County can impose a rent cap. Source-of-income is not a protected class under state law. Reviewing Arkansas security deposit limits and Arkansas tenant protections in full before signing any lease remains the baseline due diligence for anyone placing capital here.

With a poverty rate of 19.6% and renters making up 36.9% of households, Hempstead County's Low overall score reflects manageable but real operating risk, and the city grid above breaks that risk down to the street level across all 12 tracked cities.